Peking Opera (Jingju): History, Costumes & Performing Arts Guide
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Chinese Peking Opera is considered one of the world's three ancient operas, together with Greek tragedy and comedy, and Indian Sanskrit opera. Among the more than 360 ancient local operas in China, Peking Opera is known as China’s national opera, despite its comparatively young 200-year history. It has won great popularity not only in China but also throughout the world, and is a harmonious combination of many art forms, also synthesis of traditional music, dancing, poetry, acrobatics and martial arts. It is famous for its exquisite costumes, beautiful make-up or painted face, and established performing conventions and rules, and mainly includes below 4 specific:
----- Sheng (Lao Sheng, Xiao Sheng, Wu Sheng): Main Male Role. Lao Sheng is a dignified older role, have a gentle and cultivated disposition and wear sensible. Young male characters are known as Xiao Sheng, they sing in a high, shrill voice with occasional breaks to represent the voice changing period of adolescence. Wu Sheng is a martial character for roles involving combat, they are highly trained in acrobatics, and have a natural voice when singing
----- Jing: Painted Faced Male. Depending on the repertoire of the particular troupe, he will play either primary or secondary roles. This type of role will entail a forceful character, so a Jing must have a strong voice and be able to exaggerate gestures.
----- Chou (Wen Chou, Wu Chou): Clown, Male or Female. The Character usually plays secondly roles in a troupe. Indeed, most studies of Beijing opera classify the Chou as a minor role. Chou roles can be divided into Wen Chou, civilian roles such as merchants and jailers, and Wu Chou , minor military roles.
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